BEDFORD – Three more members of the Lawrence County Superior Court II Problem Solving Court graduated Thursday morning in what Judge Bob Cline called a great day.
“This is honestly one of my favorite parts of my job when people do well,” said Judge Cline. ” We get to listen and celebrate these amazing people, who have gathered the tools needed to continue forward with their lives. A Preacher once said, ‘Keep your fork, because the best is yet to come,’ and that is evident here today.
Amber Eads, Carol Sanders, and Charles Rittenhouse had worked through the program, and made their way to the graduation ceremony in front of a packed courtroom of friends, family, and supporters, in what many felt was one of the most filled courtrooms in a long time.
Amber began the ceremony by sharing her story of witnessing the loss of her father at a young age. She used this as her way to begin the partying lifestyle that led to her getting mixed up with a rough crowd.
“I had no sense of self, I had no sense of identity and I felt worthless,” said Amber. “I began using and selling which led to five arrests between 2018-2019. I let myself down, I let my children down, and I didn’t know what to do.”
She joined the program and it provided her with the tools she needed to get passed her addiction and become successful in her life. “It was tough, but I learned, I grew, and I changed for the better. I will be successful and something to be proud of”
Carol followed next with her story, and how over 28 years she was able to hide her addiction from everyone she knew, in a way she called beautifully ugly. After witnessing her father pass in a tragic event, Carol turned to alcohol. She had her wisdom teeth removed, and was prescribed a narcotic, that for the first time dulled the pain.
“I developed an obsession, I was taking these drugs and drinking, and still somehow made it through medical school,” Carol said. “I became good at hiding the addiction, but the depression dragged me to the bottom. I felt guilt and humiliation for all of the pain I had caused. I entered a program in Florida, where the withdrawal was awful. Getting sober was easy, but staying sober was the hardest.”
She was accepted into the Problem Solving Court and wanted to prove she had what it takes to get through the program, as she said “I was willing to go to any length to stay sober. God led me to AA, and AA led me back to God.”
She was given a chance to learn the tools necessary to live a productive life that she could not be happier to have attained.
Charles finished the ceremony and shared how nervous he was to be standing in front of the many people in the room, proud of what he has accomplished.
“I never thought I would say this, but I will miss this group. I didn’t sleep a wink last night because I was so nervous, and I can’t put into words how it feels to be where I am at now,” Charles said.
Facing multiple arrests for drug and alcohol use, Charles felt he couldn’t cope with the life he was living. He felt trapped by people he felt he used for all of the wrong reasons.
“I didn’t know how to act or behave in public sober, I was helplessly addicted,” Charles shared. “But through this program and my sponsors, I have paid off all of my bills, I met my soulmate who means so much to me, and I wish I could have taken this program a lot sooner. It has taken a village to get here today.”
Charles then shared a touching and humorous song he wrote when he was first accepted to the program before the event ended, and the graduates were able to continue their new lives, renewed with purpose and opportunity.
